Houston Jury Finds Negligence, Awards $63,525 in Rear-End Collision
One driver was slowing for a red light when her vehicle was struck from behind by another vehicle. The impact pushed her car into the vehicle in front of it. She reported pain in her head, neck, back, and hip, and was later diagnosed with a herniated disc and other injuries. The jury found the second driver negligent and awarded damages.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Lumbar Disc Injury Injuries
Lumbar disc injuries affect the lower back (L1-L5 and S1), which bears significant body weight and is particularly vulnerable to trauma. These injuries can cause debilitating pain and functional limitations.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $63,525
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2021
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Lumbar Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Multiple Vehicle Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $63,525 is near the median of $50,756 for lumbar disc injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $20,000 to $210,000, based on 204 cases in our database.
Case Overview
In November 2015, a motor vehicle negligence action was filed in Houston, Texas, after a rear-end collision. The plaintiff alleged she sustained a herniated lumbar disc and other injuries when her vehicle was struck from behind by the defendant's vehicle while she was slowing for a red light on Kingwood Drive. The collision pushed the plaintiff's vehicle into the one in front of her. Following the incident, the plaintiff was diagnosed with a herniated lumbar disc, lumbago, Achilles tendonitis, cervical sprain, and headaches.
The plaintiff claimed the defendant was negligent, alleging a failure to keep a proper lookout, excessive speed, and failure to brake or maneuver to avoid the collision. The defendant denied all allegations of negligence and injury, arguing that the plaintiff's own actions or omissions caused or contributed to the accident.
A jury found the defendant negligent and that this negligence caused harm to the plaintiff. The plaintiff was awarded $63,525 in damages.
Understanding This Case
- About 90% of lumbar disc herniations improve with conservative treatment. However, those requiring surgery may face permanent work restrictions and ongoing pain management needs.
- This case went to trial and resulted in a jury verdict. Verdicts can yield higher awards but carry the risk of receiving nothing if the jury rules against the plaintiff.
- This case was resolved in Harris County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2021, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.
VerdictlyTM Score
This outcome is within expected ranges
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
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